Marcus Semien

After hitting 27 home runs and stealing 10 bases in 2016, Semien missed 74 games in the first half of 2017 after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured bone in his right wrist. He did his best to er...

Investors in Semien for 2016 cashed in as he set career highs in plate appearances, home runs, RBI, runs scored and slugging percentage, while he reached double-digit stolen bases for the second straight year. Even his former hatchet-job defense has improved, which should lock him into the lineup, where he mostly hit toward the top down the stretch last year. His production dipped in the second half, but the 19 first-half home runs linger as a reminder of his upside. To reach the next level, the 26-year-old must show he can do anything in the batting average column, which on the back of his weak batting eye and flyball profile doesn't look like an immediate avenue for growth. Speculators are better off hoping he steals more bags if he continues to bat near the top of the order. For owners who can take the batting average hit, Semien will settle in as a midrange shortstop in mixed leagues who could repeat his returns from last year.

2016

Semien, acquired by Oakland in the Jeff Samardzija trade, was slotted into the lineup as the everyday shortstop for the A's. He started the season hot, then struggled in June and July before righting the ship down the stretch. The final product of all those ups and down was useful especially when factoring in his eligibility at three infield positions. The big issue was the astounding numbers of errors he made at shortstop. Semien led all of baseball with 35 errors, eight more than anyone else at any position, but he improved a lot after the A's hired Ron Washington to tutor Semien at short. After a brutal 28 errors in 89 games before the All-Star break, he only made the seven the rest of the season. That second half may have saved Semien's role heading into 2016, and as a speed/power combo at a middle-infield position, his stock may rise steadily throughout the spring.

2015

Expectations were fairly high for Semien entering the 2014 season after he get on base at over a .400 clip between Double-A and Triple-A in 2013. Unfortunately, he might have been rushed to the major leagues too early. Semien was the White Sox's Opening Day second baseman after Gordon Beckham got hurt and served in a utility role after Beckham returned. Semien struck out in 31 percent of his plate appearances, hardly walked and was back at Triple-A Charlotte by June 2. However, the A's saw something they liked and included him in a trade for Jeff Samardzija. In an ideal world, he plays regularly while posting doubles power and an above-average OBP. He'll get a chance to prove he can do that, as he's expected to compete for the starting shortstop job in Oakland.

2014

Semien is the latest White Sox prospect to run the minor league gamut. He finished 2012 in virtual obscurity at High-A, but he found his way into 21 September contests for the big league club. Stellar plate discipline helped him make is way to the top (98:90 BB:K in 137 minor league games), but this skill faded a bit against better pitching (1:22 BB:K in his September audition). His struggles continued into the Arizona Fall League, and he likely needs a bit more seasoning before he is ready for a regular MLB role. Still, the White Sox's lack of depth at third base could force him into action at some point again in 2014.